Tops for aerosol containers



. June 29, 1965 C. R. M- GRAHAM ET AL TOPS FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS Filed May 7, 1962 I w' l 1 Pa m-z 4% United States Patent 3,191,815 TGPS FOR AEROSGL CQNTAINERS Cecil Robert Miontgomery Graham, Lagonda Ave, Killara, and Lambert Ronald Little, 3 VJoorang St., Eastwood, both of New South Wales, Australia Filed May 7, 1962, Ser. No. 192,653

Claims priority, application Australia, May 8, 1961,

4,367/ 61 Ciaims. (Cl. 222-394) This invention relates to containers for dispensing aerosols and more particularly to the container top which not only seals the container, but also carries the discharge nozzle and valve.

One object of the invention is to provide a container top to which the control valve for dispensing the aero- S01 and the means for operating same can be mounted in a manner which is much simpler than that adopted in known constructions of aerosol containers.

Another object is to provide a container top which after assembling it with the valve and the means for the valve control can in a simple manner be secured to the container itself.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a container top which is devoid of protrusions and/or surface indentations and which besides this, is of reduced constructional height-when compared with known tops of aerosol containersand which is therefore simpler and more compact than such known tops.

In accordance with the invention the container top includes a disc-like portion having an aperture for receiving the outlet or discharge tube for the aerosol and two depending flanges, viz, an outer flange for mounting said top to a container and an interior flange arranged at a distance from said outer flange within the space bounded by the said disc-like portion and outer flange, the material of the top and, in particular, of its flanges being such as to permit the chamber which ac commodates the valve, to be secured to said inner flange and the said outer flange then to be secured to the container itself by the application of pressure, for instance by press-forming, roll-forming, by drawing-in, or by a similar operation by which the diameter of a flange can be reduced at least in a portion of said flange.

In a preferred embodiment the top is made of metal or other malleable or otherwise plastically deformable material, for instance by impact extrusion, and it comprises a flat or substantially flat portionthe top proper-provided with two spaced concentric cylindrical flanges which project to the same side of the top proper, and with a central hole for the discharge tube. Preferably, the annular space between the two flanges accommodates a resiliently deformable seal or gasket which, if desired, may be formed by flowing-in rubber or a rubberoid synthetic compound. 7

In order to more particularly describe the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing which, by way of example only, illustrates some embodiments of the invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows in cross-section a known type of top with the valve mechanism attached;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a container top made according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a method of and means for securing an aerosol valve to the inner flange of the top;

FIG. 4 shows the top according to FIG. 2 with a sealing ring accommodated within the space between its two flanges;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sections of two aerosol containers with top and aerosol Valve assembled for use; and

FIG. 7 in cross-section is a modified form of the top with an aerosol valve secured thereto.

In the figures of the drawing corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In any constructions of aerosol containers the valve means for controlling the discharge of the aerosol from the container are accommodated within a chamber or shell which is cylindrical and is provided in its outer cylindrical surface with an annular shoulder for mounting purposes. The shell is open at its upper end, and sealing of the shell or chamber when mounted in the container is effected by a resiliently deformable gasket or sealing disc clamped between the upper end of the said shell and the underside of the container top. This gasket is formed with an aperture which receives the discharge tube for the aerosol.

This known arrangement is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 in which 50 denotes a container top of conventional design. The shell 12 which contains the valve mechanism is provided at one end with an inlet 13 and at the opposite end with a discharge tube 14, the tube 14 being a tight fit in a central aperture 15 of the gasket 16 and projecting from the top 50 through a central opening 17 of a diameter which slightly exceeds that of the discharge tube 14. In its side the shell 12 is formed with an annular shoulder 18.

The fixation of the shell 12 and gasket 16 to the container top 50 shown in FIG. 1 by deforming the substantially cylindrical portion 19 of the top 50, at the internal annular bead 25), so as to engage beneath the shoulder 18 is diflicult to carry out as it requires a special tool or tools. This will be understood when considering that the discharge tube 14 projects a considerable distance beyond the top 50 and, furthermore, when taking into account that the space surrounding the cylindrical portion 19 of the top 50 is comparatively narrow.

With the foregoing in view the container top 11 according to the invention is shaped, for instance, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing, comprising a disc-like portion 21 which may be flat as shown and is provided with a central aperture 22, and with two concentric flanges 23 and 2.4. The flange 23 is an outer flange for mounting the top 11 on a container, whereas the flange 24 is an interior flange the inner diameter of which corresponds to the outer diameter of the shell 12 containing the valve mechanism, and of the gasket 16.

The top 11 with its aperture 22 and flanges 23, 24 as described above can be made in a simple manner from a slug or blank of a malleable metal or similarly plastically deformable material, depending on the nature of that material, for instance by turning or impact extrusion or by moulding and, if necessary by subsequently trimming the flanges so produced. The top may eventually be finished by polishing, or similarly.

By reference to FIG. 3 of the drawing it will be seen that it is simple to secure the shell 12 of a valve mechanism having an annular shoulder 18 in its side within the interior flange 24 by suitably reducing the diameter of the inner flange 24 by the application of an all-round inwardly directed pressure. The figure illustrates a simple die 25 by which such reduction of the flange diameter can be effected for instance if the said die is firmly retained in position and an adequate pressure is exerted on the top 11 in the direction of the arrow A. Alternatively it is possible, however, to carry out the reduction of the diameter by such other processes as press-forming, rolliorming or drawing-in in the manner known to experts in the art.

From FIGS. 5 and 6 it will be understood that it is similarly possible to secure the top and the valve mechanism within the shell 12 to the aerosol container 26 itself, irrespective of whether the container is made of metal (FIG. 5), glass (FIG. 6) or of any other material, after the shell 12 of the valve mechanism has been secured in the manner described above to the interior flange 24 and after an intake tube 27 has been attached to the tubular inlet 13 to the shell 12.

For adequately sealing the container it is necessary to provide a gasket ring 28 within the annular space 29, between the concentric flanges 23 and 24-, such as shown in FIG. 4. If so desired this gasket ring may simply be inserted into the space 29, but with the construction of the top described and shown above it is possible to produce the gasket ring 28 by flowing into the annular space 29 a suitable rubber composition, or a suitable rubberoid synthetic compound.

FIG. 7 of the drawing illustrates a modified form or" the top 11 which differs from that previously described in that the interior flange 24 is provided with an inwardly projecting rib or head 36. This rib is slightly deformed by the portion 31 of the shell .12 beyond the shoulder 18, which is of larger diameter, when the shell 12 is forced into the space bounded by the interior flange 24. When the portion 31 of the shell 12 has passed the bead 30, the flange 24 resiliently re-assumes its original shape in which the rib then engages the shoulder 18 from beneath and thus safely retains the shell 12 in positin within the top 111. Slits 35 in flange 24 facilitate the snap action.

Itwill be understood that instead of the head 30 an indentation or spaced indentations may be provided in the flange 24 or, alternatively, any number of indentations larger than two and that in another modification the bead may be replaced by an annular groove or the like.

The top as described above with reference to FIG. 2 or FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawing can be secured to the rim or annular edge 32 of an aerosol container 26 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 by placing the outer flange 23 over the edge 32 and by then forcing the free edge portion of the flange 23 into the annular recess 33 provided beneath the container edge 32, likewise by press-forming, roll-forming or by otherwise reducing the diameter of the edge of the flange 23.

It will be understood from the foregoing that by the method described above, the shell accommodating the valve control means and the top are very simply assembled in a manner which ensures permanency and which precludes the undesired escape of the product or its propellant from the container. Similarly, it is exceedingly simple to secure the improved top in a gas-tight manner to the container itself. Therefore the method described in this specification is particularly suitable for mass production.

The top 11 directly overlies the edge 32 of the container without projecting above the top surface of said edge. Therefore aerosol containers provided with the top according to the invention are very compact and neater in appearance than the known aerosol containers.

We desire it to be understood that we do not wish protection by Letters Patent to be limited to the aforedescribed details, as these are capable of further modification within the scope of the appended claims.

Materials used for producing the top according to the invention may for instance be brass, aluminium or other malleable metals or alloys. Likewise it is possible to make tops according to the invention from suitable plastic materials.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, an aerosol container having a valve mechanism for discharging the contents of said container and a top for closing the container positioned around the valve mechanism, said valve mechanism including a body portion and a discharge tube projecting outwardly from said body portion, said top being cap-like and comprising a disc-like portion, a central aperture in said disc-like portion through which said discharge tube extends, two mutually spaced thin-walled flanges extending outwardly from the same side of said disc-like portion and concentric to said aperture, the inner one of said flanges sealingly embracing said valve body around said discharge tube, and a resiliently compressible gasket within the space bounded by said flanges and bearing against said container, said gasket being a flowable rubber compound.

2. In combination, an aerosol container having a valve mechanism for discharging the contents of said container and a top for closing the container around the valve mechanism including a body portion and a discharge tube projecting outwardly from said body portion, said top being substantially cap-shaped and comprising a disc-like portion, a central aperture in said disc-like portion through which the discharge tube extends, and two spaced thin-walled flanges concentric with said aperture and extending outwardly from one side of said disc-like portion, said valve body portion including an annular shoulder portion of increased dimension, the inner one of said flanges of said top being provided with at least one inwardly extending projection engaged around the shoulder of said valve body and sealing said valve body with said top.

3. In combination, an aerosol container having a valve mechanism for discharging the contents of said container and a top for closing the container around the valve mechanism, said valve mechanism including a body portion and a discharge tube projecting outwardly from said bedy portion, said top being substantially cap-shaped and comprising a disc-like portion, a central aperture in said disc-like portion through which the discharge tube extends, and two spaced thin-walled flanges concentric with said aperture and extending outwardly from one side of said disclike portion, said valve body portion including an annular shoulder portion of increased dimension, the inner one of said flanges of said top being provided with at least one inwardly extending projection engaged around the shoulder of said valve body and scaling said valve body with said top, said inner one of said flanges being provided with at least one slit for facilitating its deformation about said valve body.

4. In combination, an aerosol container having a valve mechanism for discharging the contents of said container and a top for closing the container around the valve mechanism, said valve mechanism including a body portion and a discharge tube projecting outwardly from said body portion, said top being cap-like and comprising a disc-like portion, a central aperture in said disc-like portion through which said discharge tube extends, two mutually spaced thinavalled flanges extending outwardly from the same side of said disc-like portion and concentric to said aperture, the inner one of said flanges seal-ingly embracing said valve body around said discharge tube, a resiliently compressible gasket within the space bounded by said flanges and bearing against said container, said container having a neck portion with a top opening surrounded by a rim having an exterior annular recess, the outer one of said flanges extending around the rim of said container and being bent into the exterior annular recess defined on the neck portion thereof.

5. A closure comprising a cap-like top for sealing an aerosol container and retaining a central valve body, said valve body having an inlet tube extending into the container and an outlet tube extending away from the container, said top including a disclike portion having a central aperture therethrough and having an external flange and an internal flange, both flanges being concentric with said central aperture and extending towards said container, and compressible gasket means situated in the space between said external and internal flanges, said internal flange being sealably deformed about .a portion of the valve body, said valve body being situated in the space defined by said internal flange and said disc-like portion, said outlet tube extending through said central aperture away from the container, said inlet tube extending into References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

the container, said external flange being sealably deformed 10 SAMUEL O V T KIRBY,

about a portion of said container.

Examiners. 

1. IN COMBINATION, AN AEROSOL CONTAINER HAVING A VALVE MECHANISM FOR DISCHARGING THE CONTENTS OF SAID CONTAINER AND A TOP FOR CLOSING THE CONTAINER POSITIONED AROUND THE VALVE MECHANISM, SAID VALVE MECHANISM INCLUDING A BODY PORTION AND A DISCHARGE TUBE PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BODY PORTION, SAID TOP BEING CAP-LIKE AND COMPRISING A DISC-LIKE PORTION, A CENTRAL APERTURE IN SAID DISC-LIKE PORTION THROUGH WHICH SAID DISCHARGE TUBE EXTENDS, TWO MUTUALLY SPACED THIN-WALLED FLANGES EXTENDING OUTWARDLY 